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Calcimator

Raised Bed Builder Calculator

Plan a raised garden bed build — get lumber quantities, hardware lists, soil volume, and total cost estimates by material type.

Inputs

ft
ft
in

Results

Estimated Total Cost

$225.33

MaterialCedar
Soil Needed32 cu ft
Soil (Cubic Yards)1.19 cu yd
Lumber Needed48 linear ft
Total Boards8
Board Courses (layers)2
Corner Posts (4x4)4
Deck Screws32
Lumber Cost$144
Soil Cost (bulk)$53.33
Hardware Cost$8
Perimeter24 ft

Estimated Total Cost

$225.33

How to Use This Calculator
  1. Start by filling in the input fields below. Results update instantly as you type, so you can experiment with different values to see how they affect the outcome.
  2. Bed Length — Length of the raised bed in feet. 8 ft is the most popular size. Accepts values from 2 ft to 20 ft (default: 8 ft).
  3. Bed Width — Width of the raised bed. Keep it 4 ft or less so you can reach the center. Accepts values from 2 ft to 8 ft (default: 4 ft).
  4. Bed Depth — Height of the raised bed walls in inches. 12 inches suits most vegetables. Accepts values from 6 in to 36 in (default: 12 in).
  5. Material — Type of lumber or material. Cedar lasts 10-15 years without treatment. Choose from: Pine / Spruce (budget), Cedar (naturally rot-resistant), Composite / Recycled Plastic, Pressure-Treated Lumber. default: 2.
  6. Once all inputs are set, review your results in the Results panel. Here's what each output means:
  7. Estimated Total Cost — shown as a dollar amount. This is the primary result of this calculator.
  8. Material — your calculated result.
  9. Soil Needed — shown as a numeric value.
  10. Soil (Cubic Yards) — shown as a numeric value.
  11. Lumber Needed — shown as a numeric value.
  12. Total Boards — shown as a numeric value.
  13. Board Courses (layers) — shown as a numeric value.
  14. Corner Posts (4x4) — shown as a numeric value.
  15. Deck Screws — shown as a numeric value.
  16. Lumber Cost — shown as a dollar amount.
  17. Soil Cost (bulk) — shown as a dollar amount.
  18. Hardware Cost — shown as a dollar amount.
  19. Perimeter — shown as a numeric value.
  20. Explore the related calculators below if you need deeper analysis or want to approach this topic from a different angle.
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